Children's Home run by PIC Children’s Services in Sefton

Unique reference number SC040785 Inspection date 28/06/2013 Inspector Maria McGranaghan Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 15/03/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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Brief description of the service

The home is run by a private organisation and is registered to care for two young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties or a learning disability.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements Adequate : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be outstanding .

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Overall effectiveness

Young people thrive in a home dedicated to improving life chances. Excellent outcomes are seen in education, independence and emotional resilience. Young people are genuinely happy in the home and are extremely positive about the care they receive and the progress they make in all aspects of their lives.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people live in a home where their safety and well-being are consistently promoted and protected. Young people have formed excellent relationships with staff and succeed in a home that provides a nurturing and safe foundation.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people benefit from exceptionally well planned and individualised care. Highly detailed placement plans and independent living plans ensure that young people are cared for consistently and in line with their individual needs. Likewise, young people benefit from a strong and stable staff team. Staff receive consistent supervision and training, ensuring high standards of care are maintained within the home.

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Overall effectiveness

The home is effectively managed, with a strong emphasis on providing a high standard of childcare practice. Excellent monitoring systems ensure that all aspects of the home are closely scrutinised and the appropriate action taken to consistently enhance practice within the home.

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Overall effectiveness

The home blends well into the community and is close to all amenities and public transport links. It is well maintained and decorated. However, the front door lets the appearance of the home down as it is in need of restoration or replacement. Consequently, one recommendation is made at this inspection.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure all areas of the home are well maintained, with specific regard to the front door of the home. (NMS 10.3)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for young people are outstanding .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make excellent progress in education, emotional resilience and their trust in the staff who work with them. Exceptional residential care plans are implemented in conjunction with therapeutic services in order that young people can begin to make sense of their lives. Consistent key work and consultation sessions ensure that young people’s views are listened to and acted upon in all aspects of their lives. Evidence of excellent communication between young people and staff clearly demonstrates mutual respect and a genuine regard for individual need and aspirations.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people live in a home where their views and opinions are valued and respected. Consultation with young people is daily practice, from discussions around the breakfast table to more formal young people’s meetings. A young person said, ‘we talk about everything like the news, the home, everything, it’s really good.’

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from full-time, well planned and supported education. Young people’s enthusiasm about education demonstrates the home’s commitment to enabling young people to view education positively. Individual school reports highlight exceptional progress, including young people gaining excellent GCSE examination results and gaining college placements.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from effective and consistent health care. Health care plans provide details from birth to the present day and include a summary of all practitioner appointments. Regular consultation with health professionals supported by keyworker sessions ensure young people have a good understanding of issues such as drugs, sexual health and diet and this helps to support them to make informed decisions in their life. Likewise, young people have developed skills in meditation and practice this as part of their daily routine. Young people say, ‘it is brilliant, it helps me to relax and concentrate and in the evening I sleep so well and wake up refreshed. I can do this anywhere and I will use it always.’

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Outcomes for children and young people

Planned and unplanned activities take place within the home. Individual interests are promoted and this ensures young people’s personal aspirations are valued and supported. Likewise, young people have forged excellent friendships within the community. School friends are frequent visitors to the home and are viewed as valuable role models for young people. Consequently, young people have developed their own interests and style, boosting their growing confidence.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from exceptionally well-planned contact with friends and family. Staff maintain close links with families and involve them where appropriate in the overall planning of the young people’s care. Families are welcome to the home and have taken part in planning surprise parties such as birthdays and prom celebrations for young people. Clear placement planning ensures contact only takes place with those with whom it has been agreed, and arrangements are reviewed regularly.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from a knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff team who are skilled in enhancing young people’s independence training. Young people have excelled in budget management, consumer rights, meal preparation and self- organisation. Young people are proud of their achievements, particularly their tremendous culinary skills in Mediterranean cuisine. This person-centred approach assists young people to prepare for adulthood and equips them with essential life skills.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Young people thrive in a stable, nurturing and supportive environment. Staff demonstrate a strong commitment to young people and this is evident in the excellent relationships they have established. Young people and staff enjoy appropriate banter and are clearly relaxed in each other’s company.

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Quality of care

Individual behaviour management plans supported by risk assessments identify triggers for negative behaviour and effective strategies for positive behaviour management. Likewise, methods such as meditation enable young people to become relaxed and calm in order to discuss matters appropriately. Consequently, young people engage well with staff and this is evidenced by their outstanding behaviour. Young people demonstrate maturity and a sensible approach to managing issues that occur in their lives.

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Quality of care

Young people know how to complain. Information is provided in the young people’s guide and organisational complaints documents. Regular visits by an independent visitor ensure young people are provided with an opportunity to raise concerns independently from the home. One young person said, ‘I know how to complain, but I’ve no need to because it’s really great here.’ The positive relationship between staff and young people ensures that young people’s views are valued and that they feel confident to raise matters.

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Quality of care

Young people’s placement plans are excellent. Each plan perfectly encapsulates a picture of individual need and what steps are to be taken to address them appropriately. The manager said: ‘We are all very clear what help and support young people need, and understand how important it is they get the right help; I think all the staff work really hard to help young people.’ Similarly, plans clearly identify individual heritage and identity. Young people are encouraged to pursue their individual beliefs and are offered a range of material to develop their understanding of individual choice and difference.

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Quality of care

Staff effectively address young people’s educational needs through proactive relationships with partner agencies. As a result, young people have exceptional attendance and have achieved excellent results in their GCSE examinations and college placements. Young people’s accomplishment demonstrates the commitment and effort of a focused and child-centred team.

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Quality of care

Young people live in a spacious, well-maintained home that blends into the residential area. Young people are central to making the house into their home and proudly display photographs, drawings and comments around the home. However, the front door leading into the property does not reflect the well maintained and decorated interior. A young person said, ‘the front door doesn’t make the house look nice, even though the rest of the house is really nice.’

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is outstanding at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff undertake child protection training in order that they are able to respond to suspicions or allegations of abuse. Clear and focused risk assessments are in place and encapsulate individual risk factors for young people. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed with young people and are used as an opportunity to discuss personal safety and remaining safe in the community. Young people engage really well and are committed to their personal aspirations. Consequently, young people are not involved in any risk-taking behaviours.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff ensure young people are suitably equipped to recognise the signs of bullying. Information, guidance and regular discussions take place in the home and this is supported by frequent visits from the independent visitor. Young people feel confident that should a concern arise, staff will respond quickly and effectively. One young person said, ‘we talk about bullying and how it can make you feel, but it’s never been a problem.’

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people live in a home where their safety and well-being are protected. Detailed individual missing from home plans are in place and this ensures the correct procedures and strategies are implemented without delay. Likewise, external agencies work with staff and young people to develop a culture where young people do not go missing from the home. This has proven successful as there are no episodes of young people being absent or missing from home.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff receive appropriate training in order to appropriately manage physical intervention within the home. Procedures and guidance are in place and are regularly reviewed with staff and young people. Staff are clear that physical intervention is only used to prevent a young person harming themselves or others. De-escalation and redirection techniques are the home’s preferred method of mediation and this has proved successful. Consequently, there are no instances where physical intervention has been applied in the home.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff promote young people’s on-going protection by undertaking regular fire drills and service tests, making sure that all faults are efficiently addressed. Clear evidence highlights stringent monitoring of all systems within the home, including the appropriate storage, administration and recording of medication.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff are vigilant when managing visitors to the home and take appropriate steps to verify visitors’ identity in order to protect the young people. The Statement of Purpose includes a glossary of staff employed within the home and their relevant qualifications.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The system for the recruitment and selection of staff is thorough and ensures young people are only looked after by staff that are appropriately checked in order to work in the home. Young people’s views and opinions are central to the recruitment process. This ensures there is the right balance of staff within the home to suitably meet young people’s needs. This process enables young people to feel valued while promoting their self-esteem and confidence.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are outstanding .

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Leadership and management

Young people live in a home that is effectively managed. The home meets the aims and objectives of the Statement of Purpose and young people’s families and social workers are clear about the support the home provides.

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Leadership and management

The manager and staff clearly demonstrate a strong commitment to delivering exceptional childcare practice tailored to the individual and personal needs of the young people they look after. The effectiveness of this approach is evident in the excellent progress young people make.

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Leadership and management

The manager has a clear and realistic understanding of the strengths of the service and areas for further progression based on consistent auditing and monitoring practices. The manager makes exceptional use of reflective practice, ensuring excellent communication and consultation with young people, staff and social workers.

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Leadership and management

External monitoring of the home is thorough. Evidence indicates clear lines of enquiry and focus-based reporting. The manager is effective in demonstrating efficient responses to areas for development.

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Leadership and management

Young people are looked after by a highly competent staff team with a wide range of skills and experience that are well matched to the needs of the young people. Staff access a comprehensive training programme suitably matched to the needs of young people, thus providing staff with the skills and knowledge to work effectively in their role. Likewise, staff receive a high level of support and supervision in order that they maintain the high standards of care practice in the home

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Leadership and management

The manager and staff demonstrate commitment to delivering excellent childcare practice tailored to the individual and personal needs of the young people they look after. The effectiveness of this approach is measurable in the outstanding progress young people have made to date. The home shows the capacity to improve.

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the Inspections of children’s homes – framework for inspection and the evaluation schedule for the inspection of children's homes.

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